Jan 27, 2009

Please Speak Clearly, Lord, I Have Children.

Seems like an odd title for a blog post, doesn't it? I just thought I would use it for a title since it seems that I have ended every prayer I've prayed over these last few weeks with these exact words.

Am I alone? Or have all the mother's and father's out there breathed these very same words? Can I get a whatwhat?

Isn't it funny how not only our life changes when we have children, but so do our prayers?

My prayers used to consist of three things:
1. Me
2. Me
3. That God would seek vengeance on people that made me mad.

Then I got married, and my prayers changed to:
1. Me
2. Me
3. That God would deliver the Attorney General from all his insufficiencies and how they adversely affected...you got it...me.

I like to think that over the years my prayers have grown, as have I. I like to think that as my relationship with Christ grows and deepens, so does my prayer life. My hope is that they aren't as whiney, self-focused, whiney. Or as whiney. But that maybe - on a good day - they focus on the things of real importance: His faithfulness, His glory and His ability to use me (as risky as an endeavor as this probably is to Him) in whatever way He may choose.

Over the past several months the Attorney General and I have been focused on one particular area of prayer - a personal area for our family, and it's here that I've found myself saying those infamous words, "Speak clearly Lord, I have children." Sometimes I re-phrase it, "Please make sure I don't miss what it is you're doing Lord, remember I have kids to think about." I've even been known to paraphrase when I'm in a real hurry, "I can't hear you!! Help! What if I screw my kids up???"

Say it any way you want, He hears it all the same.

And He knows.

Truth is, He cares more about my children than even I do; more about their welfare, their happiness, their future. My concern may be greater than His, but His "ways" have mine beat by a mile.

So let this short, inconsequential blog post be of some comfort to you today. You're not the only one who's uttered a prayer under your breath that you desperately need to hear God clearly for fear that your choices will affect the lives of those you love. It's every parent's personal predicament: Oh, Lord, may your words be as clear as writing on the wall lest I screw up my children's lives and make them wish they had been born to circus folk.

See, my friend? You're not alone.

Scripture reminds us of this...

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:26, The Message Bible)

May you be reminded today that nothing you are concerned about - not anything or anyone, not any decision or any condition - has gone unnoticed. He knows every detail of our lives, even the little ones that run around in their glorious 2 year old nakedness, and He is working it into something good. Something great. Something glorious.

Please speak clearly, Lord, I have children.

22 comments:

Denise @ Sunflowers, Chocolate and Little Boys said...

Wonderful, wonderful post. Thank you!!

Kaye said...

What an incredible post! This one is a keeper...I'm emailing it to myself!

Nicole @ Four Real said...

What a good reminder! Especially when you feel completely OUT NUMBERED! :)

Melissa said...

Oh my darlin, Melissa. I couldn't have said it any better. Girl, you get me. I would say, you complete me, but that might sound a little creepy and we know only Jesus can really do that....:)

I think the thing I utter to the Lord the most during this very cloudy, foggy, dense phase of my life is.....be patient with me. Lord, I'm ugly sometimes. I want to throw tantrums when things don't go my way. Sometimes I want to just think about what I want. (Then that self-loathing conviction comes drizzling down and I think, "What's wrong with me?) Lord, I'm a selfish creature. Help me not to be that way. You have entrusted me with these children and I don't want to mess it up. Somehow, I pray, they will still be able to see You in me, even though I like to run the show. Help me not to perpetuate the bad parts of my past into the lives of my children. They need to see something different. They need to see You. I pray I will take my experiences and learn from them to bring about good change in my children. Take the instabilities in my life and make them stable for my family. You are the only One that works. Nothing else will do. Your Word and Your Way, Lord. Help me to listen and follow you all my days.

Love you, sister. Hurry up and come see me, nerdface....before our chillrens are all grown and we are the ones sportin' diapers!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

I needed to hear that today-I prayed with my husband before he left for work today...too much stress for him which effects us all in the long run...I am sharing your post with him-

Mommy said...

Your words are so timely today. Thank you for your honesty and candor.

Desha said...

Whatwhat!
My husband and I were talking about this very thing last night. I guess God was listening and knew I needed some reassurance today!

Anonymous said...

Very, very timely advice, not only as I pray for my own kids, but my daycare kiddos as well.

And as an aside, I'm totally saving for my kids' therapy, not college.

Lynda said...

What a nice post. Wait till they're teens. You will pray a LOT more!

Anonymous said...

visit my blog today...perhaps God will speak to you...

Leighann said...

I'm always wondering what it will be that I do to traumatize my children. And, speaking of children, I deliver this baby the doctors swore wouldn't live in three weeks. Please pray with me that God will be glorified no matter the outcome. And if I could have my way - HEALING!! Thanks.

Tyanne said...

I love this post, I am quite the blog stalker and you always make me laugh. I have to ask for the time and consciousness to STOP and listen.

Carrie said...

Oh, my. Thank you so much for this. I am struggling with my personal discipline philosophy right now and seeking wisdom MANY times throughout the day...thanks for the reminder that God loves my baby & wants the best for him, even more than I do.

Charloe said...

Thank you so much. I really needed this post. See, Heavenly Father spoke clearly to me through you today! Thank you.
Charloe

Finding Joy in the Journey said...

Amen, and thank you! I very much needed this post...our Father God used you for me today.
I have a 6 wk old...my first, and have been struggling with constant worry about everything...from her health now to her teenage years & beyond. I recently started reading The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie O'Martian and am learning to release my worry in the form of prayer and know that there is Someone there who loves my baby girl even more than me...a scary thing that is hard to fathom (I'm a little head over heals for her chubby cheeks and tiny nose!). So, thank you, cyberfriend, for sharing your heart and being a blessing to me today!

Rhonda said...

Oh, please tell me he wasn't in the bathroom with me earlier! Although I would like to know what I ate that caused it, and he probably could answer that.

I don't know if you read Monday's post that I sent you or not, but it was about screwing up my children. And you write about BM's so I know that I can share this with you.

I came out of the bathroom and looked at my 14 year old (yes the same one I screwed up earlier) and said "Woo, I SO should have taken a before and after weight for that one!"

She just stopped again, and looked at me. She thinks I'm a little odd, perhaps. Should I break it to her and tell her it's genetic? lol

The Beauty Bargainista said...

I tell you what...you always know just what to say and when to say it. I think the Lord truly uses you and this blog to touch His people, beacause I needed to hear this today!!

The Beauty Bargainista said...

I tell you what...you always know just what to say and when to say it. I think the Lord truly uses you and this blog to touch His people, beacause I needed to hear this today!!

The Beauty Bargainista said...

I tell you what...you always know just what to say and when to say it. I think the Lord truly uses you and this blog to touch His people, beacause I needed to hear this today!!

Shonya said...

AMEN! I am so, SO grateful that God loves my children even more than I do! I'm trusting Him to provide the grace to cover my many, many mistakes in raising them! This is particularly true as we homeschool them, and it's such a daunting day-to-day walk. I won't bore you with the list of constant questions I ask Him! :)

Aja Jenise said...

AMEN!! This was the theme of my day. Did I mention I homeschool? Yeah well, my oldest has book smarts, but no common sense... how am I to motivate her to make sense without threatening her... bribing her... cheering yelling crying...whathaveyou?! Yes, it is a daily prayer!! Thank you for the comfort in knowing I am not alone Melissa.

Aja

Beth said...

Givin' my what what!!

And a big ol fat AMEN!!


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